Hydroplane-boat.



. L. E. SIMPSON.

HYDBOPLANE BOAT.

APPLIOL'IIOI FILED JAB. 14, 1907.

Patented Jan; 12,1909.

4 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

WITNESSES We L. E. smrson.

I HYDBOPLANE BOAT. APPLICATION n-Lnn 141.14, i901.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I WITNES-SE IN VEN TOR L. E. SIMPSON.

HYDBOPLANE BOAT I -APPLICATIOH FILED I, 14, 1901.

\ Patented-Jan. 12, 1909-.

'4 BEEETHKBBT 4.

LOWE E.- SIMPSON, or COLLEGE HILL, 01110.

HYDROPLANE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

' Application filed Ianuary ll, 1907; Serial No. 362,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lown E. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Col lege Hill, in the county of. Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Hydroplane- Boats, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to pro- 'vide a hydro lane boat with a body adapted to support the boat by displacement when the same is at rest on the water and which bod is adapted to rise with relation to the sur ace of the water for reducing displacement when the boat attains speed,'this rising being accomplished through the medium of hydroplanes which, in the operation of the boat, preferably remain submerged, and remaining submerged, are unaffected by the surface motion. or waves of the water, and it is the furtherobject of my invention to provide a boat of the character mentioned with adjustments by which the hydroplanes, are'under instant control of the operator for either causing the boatvto rise or fall throughout its length and width or at its bow or stern, or from sideto side, so that the boatmay' be at all times kept on a level with the water irrespective of distribution of weight on the boat and so that the boat inaybe easily dirigible. The speed possible in my improved device is very great.

It is especially desirable with high speeds,

m in rou h weathers and choppy seas, or where un ue and unex ected resistance is liable to be encountere at difierent parts of the boat from diffe nt directions, that the hydroplanes may be manipulated instantly to counteract orovercome the same, and I provide means for accomplishing this. It is the further object of my invention to provide a hydroplane 'boat having hydro planes and propeller continuously submerged during propulsion of the boat, in which the various adjustments and connections with the motive and dirigible parts may be made above Water so that instant at tention or repair may given to any of those parts, and in accomplishing these 0b jects, I prefer to pivot the hydroplaneframes on which the hydroplanes are mounted above the normal level of the water, to

connect the propeller-shaft with the motive power above the normal level of the water, and to construct the propeller shaft in such manner that its propeller. end may be raised above the normal level of the water for attention to the propeller.

My invention consists in means employed for accomplishin these various objects, and

the invention will be further understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved hydroplane boat. Fi 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a ront elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the rudder controlling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the rudder and the connections of the, propeller shaft at the forward end of the latter, partly in section on the line ant-01 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspectix e view of the swivel-support for the.hydroplane controllingshaft, partly broken away. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation, partly in section, showing the means of releasable at I taclunent of-the fuel-tank to the cross-bars;

and, Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the means of releasably securing the motor and its pillow-block in place, and, Fig. 9 is a detail in section of the' platform.

1 represents the body of the, boat which normally, when the boat is at :rest, rests upon the water and is supported thereon by displacement, as indicated by the dotted line a representing the normal surface-of the water. I have shown the body as com rising "the hollow tubes 2 2, preferably 0 metaland which may respectively have tapered ends 3 at 3" 4'. These metal; tubes act as buoyancy members for the boat. Asuitable number of cross-bars are provided for connecting the tubes. Thus I have shown a front cross-bar 5., a rear cross-bar 6, which may be slightly higher than, the. front crossbar, and intermediate cross-bars 7 8 9, which latter form the support for theplatform 10.

The platform com rises boards laid on the respectiie crossars, bolts 11' passing through the boards and plates'12' under the same, nuts 13 screwing overthe lower ends of the'bolts. are secured to the tubes by means of straps 15 passing about the under surfaces and sides of the tubes and connecting with stirrups 16 at their ends, the cross-blocks 17 of (See Fig. 9). The cross-bars the stirrups' being on top of the cross-bars,

compression-blocks 18 resting upon the tubes,

the cross-bars resting upon the compressionblocks and being rigidly held in place by screwing upthe nuts 19. The compressionblocks and stirrups are of such relative sizes as to locate the cross-bars at the desired heights. Braces 20 are secured between the compression-blocks of the cross-bars 7 8 9 for steadying the same. 4

For driving the boat, I provide a suitable motor, as see the motor 21, shown as a four cylinder internal combustion motor comprising the cylinders 21' '21" 21 21. The crank-shaft casing- 22 of the motor is releasably secured to a pillow-block 23 by nuts and bolts 24. The pillow-block is releasably secured to the cross-bars 7 8 by caps 25 under said bars and secured to the pillowblocks by bolts 26. (See 8).

27 is a tank containing the fuel for themotor, as gasolene, which is fed through the clutch 35,, so that the engine may be readily started without carrying the load of the propeller-shaft. 'The clutch is operated from' a handle 36, The drive-shaft 1s journaled in a sleeve 37 of sharing 38 on a stanchion 39 having fork-members 39* 39", said forkmembers at their lower ends having bearings 40 releasably secured to the cross-bar 5 by bolts 41.

44 is a propeller-shaft which at its forward end is journaled in a'thrust-bearing 45. 46 is a propeller for the ropeller-shaft. This thrust-bearing is pref rahly pivoted about the crom bar 5 by means of a capbearing 47. The propeller-shaft is also journaled in a bearing 48 at its stern-end. The bearing 48 has pivotal connection on a pin -49 with a: hanger 50 comprising forks 50 50" respectively secured to the cros-barfi by means of bear' I 51, held in place by bolts 52. Removable bolts53 form the connection between said forks and the bearlugs 51.

The forwardend of'the drive-shaft 34 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 55, and the forward end of the propeller-shaft is provided with a sprocket-wheel 56, about which sprocket-wheels the sprocket-chain 57 passes for conveying the power of the drive-shaft to the propeller-shaft. v a

In order to adjust the distance betwe en the sprocket-wheels for loosening or tightening the'sprocket-chain and also for rmittlng swinging of the ropelleraft upon its pivoted front hearing, I rovide means for lengthenin I stanchion 39, the clutc 35 permlttmg sufiicient swiveling between the drive-shaft 34 or shorten ng the and the crank-shaft 32 for the purpose. I prefer to accomplish the adjustment of the stanchion .by d viding .the res ective fork members 39 39 thereof into 'vided endmembers having turnbuckles 58 58 between them respectively, and for permitting this adjustment I articulate the respective ends of said fork-members with their bearings as indicated by the pivot-pins 59 59'.

If now it is desired to raise the pro eller,

the bolts 53 of the bearings 51 are r eased.

for releasing the hanger 50. This will permit the raising of the stern end of the gopeller-shaft and permit the propeller to inspected, repaired or replaced above the level of the water. If there should not be sufiicient slack in the sprocket-chain to permit the sprocket-wheel on the propellershaft to swing sufficiently to bring the rear end of the propeller-shaft above water, the

sprocket-chain may be removed from the sprocket-wheels or the fork-members 39 39 of the stanchion 39 shortened for permitting this movementor removal.

The hydroplane-frames are shown at 71 72 73. These comprise plane-members, z'. e.

hydroplanes proper,jand upright members and, as will be seen, are pivoted above the normal level of the water and are also operated from points above the normal level. of the water by means of connections also above the normal level of the water, so that the parts are at all times accessible for inspection, repairing or other purposes. The hydroplane-frame 71 comprises a plane member 74, the uprights 75, the braces 76 and the connecting bars 77 78. The uprights have cap-bearings 79 79- connected thereto and journaled about the cross-bar 5 for forming a pivot .for the front hydroplaneframe above the normal level of the water. The caps of the bearings are readily removed so that the hydroplane-frame may be raised out of the water for inspection, repair or other manipulation. It will be noted that the uprights are of very narrow cross-section so as to afford as'little resistance as possible to the water, that they flare outwardly toward their lower ends, and that their lower ends are bent for forming feet 80 80 riveted or otherwise secured to, the pl axle-member 74.

The hydroplane-frame 72 comprises the plane-member 81, the uprights 82 82', the upper connecting bars 83 83 and the diagonal braces 84. The uprights flare outwardly toward their lower ends and at their lower ends are provided with feet 85 85 bolted or riveted to the plane-member. The hydroplane-frame 72 is provided with a bracket 86. This bracket comprises side plates 87 88 secured to the u rights, the rear ends of which are provide with bear ings89 90 about; the "cross-bar 6. Collars 91 92 are releasabl-y secured to the cross-bar with a plane-member 95 and has uprights 96 96 connected by connecting bars 97 97' and braces 98.' The uprights flare outwardly toward their lower ends and at their '15 lower ends are provided with laterally extending feet 99 99 bolted or riveted to the plane-member. The-hydroplane-frame 7-3 is provided with a bracket 1.00 comprising side plates 101 102 bolted or riveted to'the uprights, the rear ends of said side plates being provided with bearings 103 104 about the cross-bar 6 for forming a pivot for the hy-' droplane-frame73r Collars 1,05 106 are'releasably' secured to the cross-bar 6 for positioning the hydroplane-frame 73 laterally. Thehydroplane-frame 73 may be readily removed by slipping the same endwise off the cross-bar 6. The side plate 102 has a diagonally extending portion which.meets the side-plate 101'for merging into a laterally extending arm 107.

The hydroplaneframes are connected with hydroplane controlling means -in such. I manner that all the hydroplanes are under instant and ready control for causing'the boat to rise or fall on a level or for raising and lowering either the prow' or the stern, and also for tilting the boat sidewardl so that. all conditions of resistance to the oat in any direction may be immediately met and counteracted. Thus 111 is a dru m operated by a shaft 112 having a hand wheel 113. The shaft 112 is rotatively and pivotall supported in such manner so that it may e'turned and ung upon its pivot in substantially all diri tions. The shaft is arran ed to rotate in a swivel-sleeve 114,

on w ich it is supported by a collar 115 secured to'the shaft. The sleeve is supported on trunnions 116 havin bearin in'a ring-member 117, which rlng-mem er is provided with trunnions 118'having bearing in a casing 119. (See Fig. 6). The trunnions-116 and 118 having axes at substant-ially right angles-to each other. 7 A'flexible connection 121, which ma take the form of a chain or cable, is suita ly secured to the drum and asses therefrom to the upper end of the hy roplane-frame 71 to which it is 0 releasably secured at 122 to the connecting bar 77. For guiding the direction of the flexible connection 121 it is arranged to pass.

over pulleys 123 124. A'flexible connection 125 is suitably secured to the drum 111 and .5 leads to and is connected with the arm 93 .of bracket 86 of' hydroplane-frame 72, and is guided thereto over pulleys 126 127, the pulley 126 bein secured to one of the braces 20, and the pu ey 127 being in the form of a pulley-block hung from a bracket 128 on the adjacent cross-block 17. A flexible con-' nection 131 is suitably secured to. the drum 7 and leads to and is connected with the arm 107 of bracket 100 of hydroplane-fra'me 73 and is guided thereto over pulleys 132 133. The pulley 132 is secured-under the latform 10 and the pulley 133 is in the orm of a pulley-block hung from a bracket 134 on the adjacent cross-block 17, the bracket 134-being similar to the bracket 128.

'135 shows the operators seat, and when sitting or standing at the wheel 113 the operator may easil manipulate the boat.

141 is a rud er which-is pivoted at its lower end on a pm '142 passing through plane-member 74 and havlng an enlargement 143 under the latter. At its n per end this rudder has a rearwardly exten ing arm 144 which has a shank 145 journaled in a bearing 146 forming the upper pivot of the rudder. This bearing 146 is secured to..the connecting bar 7 8 by a. bolt 147. A flexible connection 151 releasably connects with the swinging end of this rudder-arm and 1s guided to one 'side'thereof, and'a flexible connection 152 is also releasably secured to the swinging end of this arm andis guided to the other side thereof. nection 151 is guided over pulley-blocks .153 154 and is secured to a steering-shaft 155 and wra' ped about that shaft in-one direction. The flexible connection 152 is guided over pulley-blocks, 156-157 and is secured to and wrapped about the said steeringshaft, the wrapping of said flexible-com nection 152 about'said shaft being in a direction opposite to the direction of wrapping of the flexible connection 151-, so that when the said steering-shaft is turned in one direc-' tion, the flexible connection 151 will wrap upon the samewhile the. flexible connection 152 will unwrap from it, and ,vice versa. The pulley-blocks 153 156 are secured to the cross-bar 5 while the pulley-blocks 154 157 are secured to the cross-bar 9. Hand-wheels 158 158 are securedto said steering shaft, which is-preferably journaled in bearings 159 under the seat 135, so that the rudder may be manipulated from either end of said seat. It will further be noted that the flexi-. ble connections tov the rudder pass forwardly from the swinging end of the rudderarm so'that-when the hydro lane-frame 71 i is swung upon pivot, an ac strain upon the flexible connection or the arm may beavoided, the said flexible connections first -passing forward in a direction toward the pivot of said hydroplane-frame. In operation, when the boat is at rest, or if but slight motion is imparted thereto, the

The flexible con- 7 boat will be supported by displacement of its weight upon the water, the support being had through the tubes2 2.. When the boat acquires speed and the hydroplanes are so setthat the forward edges of the plane members will be above the rear edo-es thereof, the tendency will be to cause the boat to rise as upon anincline, and when proper inclination has been given the hydroplanes and the propeller is speeded up, the tubes 2 2' will gradually emerge from the water and rise above the normalwater level so that the support of the boat will be through the medium of the hydroplanes, which however remain submerged, as see the dotted line b which represents the water-level under the lastnamed conditions. If it is desired to raise the prow of the boat, the shaft 112 may be swung upon its pivot for bringing the upper end of said shaft forward, which will tip the upper end of the forward hydroplane-frame rearwardly and lower the arms of the rear hydroplane-frames. If on the other hand it is desired to raise the stern of the boat, the upper end of the drum-shaft is tipped back. If it is desired to raise the right side of the boatthe hand-wheel 113 is tipped toward that side which will raise the arm of the hydroplane-frame 72 and permit the arm of the hydroplane-frames 73 to drop. If on the other hand it is desired to raise the left side of the boat, the hand-wheel 113 is shifted toward that side, which thereby raises rections mentioned, and the boat will correspondingly rise in the direction toward which the hand-wheel is shifted so that the manipulation of the hand-wheel is instinctive, the connections being so arranged that the handwheel is merely tipped in that direction indicated by that part of the boat which it is desired to raise. If it is desired to raise the tubes out of the water, the handwheel is turned for winding all the flexible connections of the hydroplane-frames upon the drum and thereby adjusting all the plane members to a greater angle to the horizontal. If desired, the hydroplanes may also be employed to cause quick stoppage of the boat as they may be swun on their pivots to such a great angle to the horizontal that so much of thelrunder flat sides will be presented forwardly and against the water as to arrest the progress of the boat.

It will be noted that the weights of the parts are distributed as equally as possible upon the boat. which permits the adjustment of the. rise at either side or end of the boat, an equal dis tribution of the weight on the boat is readily compensated for by manipulation of the hydroplane wheel. It will further be noted Having thus fully described my invention hydroplane-frames pivoted thereto compris- By means of mydevice that the various parts of theboat are releasably connected with each'other for constituting a collapsible or knock-down hydro plane boat.

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydroplane boat, the combination with a normal supporting body, hydroplaneframes pivoted thereto above the normal level of the water when said supporting body rests upon the water, said hydroplaneframes provided with submerged hydroplanes, a drum, and flexible connections be tween said drum and said respective hydroplane-frames whereby said hydroplanes are simultaneously manipulated.

2. In a hydroplane boat, the combination of a normal supporting body, hydroplaneframes pivoted. thereto, said hydroplaneframes comprising hydroplanes, a pivoted manipulatin drum, and flexible connections between sai drum and hydroplane-frames whereby said hydroplane-frames may be simultaneously swung abouttheir pivots by revolving said drmn and whereby said bydroplaneframes may be manipulated by swinging said drum upon its pivot- 3. In a hydroplane boat, the combination of a normal supporting body, a series of ing a central hydroplane-frame at one end of said boat and side hydroplane-frames at the other end of said boat, a manipulating drum therefor-,means for universally pivoting said drum, means for revolving said drum,flexible connections between said drum and said respective hydroplane-frames for simultaneously manipulating said hydroplane-frames by revolving said 'drum and reversely swinging said side hydroplaneframes by pivotal movement of said drum, substantially as described.

L. In a hydroplane boat, the combination with a normal supporting body, a series ofhydroplane-frames pivoted thereto comprising a. centralhydroplane-frame at oneend of said boat and side hydroplane-frames at the other end of said boat, a manipulating drum therefor, means for universally pivoting said drum, means for revolving said drum, flexible connections between said drum and said respective hydroplaneframes for simultaneously -manipulatin I said hydroplane-frames by revolving said drumand reversely swinging said side hydroplane-frames andcthe hydroplane-frames at the respective ends of said boat with relation to each other by the swinging movement of said drum, substantially as described. v i i 5. In a hydroplane boat, the combination of a normal supporting body, hydroplane frames pivoted thereto above the normal level of the water when said body upon so9,4es

from said connected thereto, driving means between said water, arms extending the forward end of said drive-shaft and the ,hydroplane-frames above the level of the exposed end of said propeller-shaft, and adwater, a pivoted rotatable drum, flexible justing means betweenthe forward ends of connections from said drum to said respecsaid shafts; V V tive arms whereby said hydroplane-frames 7. In a hydroplane boat, the combination I are manipulated by revolving said drum or with a normal supporting body for the boat, swinging the same upon its pivot, said arms, of hydroplane-frames pivoted thereto above drum and connectlons bem above said the normal level of the water when said boat normaljlevel of the water, su stantially as rests upon the water, said .hydroplane- 5 described. frames, an arm for saidrudder, an operat- I 6. In a hydroplane boat, the combination pivoted to one of said hydro lane-frames, a of a normal supporting bod of the boat, ivoted revolving drum, flexi 10' connections hydroplane-frames. pivoted t ereto, a pro- Eetween said drum and said eh ydroplane- 'peller-shaft and propeller, the forward endframes, an arm for said rudder, an operat- 40 of said propeller-shaft being above the level i'ng shaft for the same, and flexible con- I of the water when said body normally rests nections between said arm land operating upon said water and the stern endof said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose propeller-shaft bein under water, a pivotal specified connection for the orward'end of said prof In testimony whereof I have subscribed Her-shaft, 'a' releasable stay for sup (at my name hereto in the presence of two subing tll p real;1 end of11 'saitti1 ptropellergse aft, scribing witnessesv where sai 7 r0 er-s a may released and swii iig iifion its pivot for ex- LOWE SIMPSON osure of the prope er above said water- Witnesses: Bevel, a motor on said boat, a drive shaft THEODORE C. JUN'G, COBDELIA OHnamr.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No; 909,468, granted January 12, 1909, upon the application of Lowe E. Simpson, of College Hill, Ohio, for an improvement in Hydroplane-Boats, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 36, page 5, the words an arm for said rudder, an operatshould be stricken out and the following inserted instead; comprising hydroplana,. a rudder; and that the said Letters Patent should be read these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case the Patent Oflioel Signed and sealed this 9th day of February, A. 1)., 1909. V

[BEAL.]. I 0.,0, BiLLmes,

Ading Commissioner of Patents.

so9,4es

from said connected thereto, driving means between said water, arms extending the forward end of said drive-shaft and the ,hydroplane-frames above the level of the exposed end of said propeller-shaft, and adwater, a pivoted rotatable drum, flexible justing means betweenthe forward ends of connections from said drum to said respecsaid shafts; V V tive arms whereby said hydroplane-frames 7. In a hydroplane boat, the combination I are manipulated by revolving said drum or with a normal supporting body for the boat, swinging the same upon its pivot, said arms, of hydroplane-frames pivoted thereto above drum and connectlons bem above said the normal level of the water when said boat normaljlevel of the water, su stantially as rests upon the water, said .hydroplane- 5 described. frames, an arm for saidrudder, an operat- I 6. In a hydroplane boat, the combination pivoted to one of said hydro lane-frames, a of a normal supporting bod of the boat, ivoted revolving drum, flexi 10' connections hydroplane-frames. pivoted t ereto, a pro- Eetween said drum and said eh ydroplane- 'peller-shaft and propeller, the forward endframes, an arm for said rudder, an operat- 40 of said propeller-shaft being above the level i'ng shaft for the same, and flexible con- I of the water when said body normally rests nections between said arm land operating upon said water and the stern endof said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose propeller-shaft bein under water, a pivotal specified connection for the orward'end of said prof In testimony whereof I have subscribed Her-shaft, 'a' releasable stay for sup (at my name hereto in the presence of two subing tll p real;1 end of11 'saitti1 ptropellergse aft, scribing witnessesv where sai 7 r0 er-s a may released and swii iig iifion its pivot for ex- LOWE SIMPSON osure of the prope er above said water- Witnesses: Bevel, a motor on said boat, a drive shaft THEODORE C. JUN'G, COBDELIA OHnamr.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No; 909,468, granted January 12, 1909, upon the application of Lowe E. Simpson, of College Hill, Ohio, for an improvement in Hydroplane-Boats, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 36, page 5, the words an arm for said rudder, an operatshould be stricken out and the following inserted instead; comprising hydroplana,. a rudder; and that the said Letters Patent should be read these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case the Patent Oflioel Signed and sealed this 9th day of February, A. 1)., 1909. V

[BEAL.]. I 0.,0, BiLLmes,

Ading Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 909,468, granted January 12, 1909, upon the application of Lowe E. Simpson, of College Hill, Ohio, for an improvement in Hydroplane-Boats, errors appear in the printed specification requiring oorrection, as follows: In line 36, page 5, the words an arm for said rudder, an operab should be stricken out and the following inserted instead; compnking hydroplana, a rudder; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same miiy conform to the reeord of the ease in the Patent Ofiioe.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of February, A. D., 1909.

[sun] C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

